San Sebastián Travel Guide
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Lights reflecting off the La Concha bay
by dirtypierreontour
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San Sebastián
by myriam_c
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Peine de los Vientos
by DPando
Pro
Small enough that you can't get dangerously lost but big enough to have a month's worth of fun.
Con
Can be expensive - I heard it's the 2nd most expensive city in Spain
In a nutshell
Eat, lounge, and tan in a charming old city.
Explore San Sebastián
San Sebastion [ Donostia ]
alectrevor Says:
San Sebastion or Donostia has it is known locally is a lovely place around a small bay and river. San Sebastion is served by the narrow gauge Euskotren railway along the north coast of Spain. and there is the RENFE main line trains to places like Madrid and Segovia. Their...
More views from Mont Urgull.
pfsmalo Says:
The Santa Clara island sitting in the middle of the bay has a beach that can be reached by a small ferry. At the equinox tides in March and September it can even be reached on foot. It was also used by the city in the 16th century for victims of the plague that was ravaging...
Mont Urgull.
pfsmalo Says:
Fortified from the 12th century to protect its trade and fishing industry Mont Urgull, the original small castle built by Sancho of Navarre, was further strengthened in 1530 and more walls added. The castle was taken in the early 1700's by the British but surrendered in 1794...
Hotel Maria Cristina
3 Reviews and 248 Opinions The stay here was incredible. The staff was amazing. The room and view was excellent. The only...
Villa Soro
1 Review and 165 Opinions The first thing that impressed us about the hotel was the individual attention of the staff. This is...
Bar Kursaal: Simple pintxos behind Playa de la Zurriola
SWFC_Fan Says:
In the autumn of 2012, I read an article in which the British consumer magazine "Which?" had conducted extensive research to identify the world's best city for eating out. Based on their findings, they concluded that San Sebastian was the best city in the world for...
Bar Barandiaran: Breakfast baguettes near the town hall
SWFC_Fan Says:
In the autumn of 2012, I read an article in which the British consumer magazine "Which?" had conducted extensive research to identify the world's best city for eating out. Based on their findings, they concluded that San Sebastian was the best city in the world for...
La Muralla: Another good restaurant...
ilovespain Says:
One evening I was scouting for a place to eat in the Old town. It was way past my dinnertime and it was cold and chilly. After a while I found this restaurant with an interesting tasting menu so I decided to give it a try. I never have to stand outside a restaurant and wait...
Astelena 1997: Good food here too...
ilovespain Says:
Another good recommendation from Maria Cristina the first time I came to San Sebastian. Since then, I've been back numerous times. The food just gets better (or the same), I mean consistent. It is not exactly in Old Town, and you will not stumble upon it. Not as touristy as...
Bar Martinez: Excellent tapas
ilovespain Says:
The concierge at Maria Cristina recommended this restaurant. On a street somewhere in old town, I waited outside for it to open. It was well after 1PM. If there is such a thing as Basque nouvelle pintxos, you'll find them here. Very tasty.
Deep fried artichoke hearts...Deep...
Gandarias Taberna: Good lunch here too...
ilovespain Says:
I looked around and most people ordered steak and they looked good. I had Gandarias Salad - crab meat and anchovies on lettuce hearts and tomatoes. Very tasty. Squab was delicious. Extremely busy and lucky enough to get a table.
A small family will have an order of steak...
Alberto: A few doors down from Bar Martinez...
ilovespain Says:
The decoration is nothing fancy but the food is always good. I cannot get a glass of sangria in Bar Martinez, but in here, I can get it by the pitcher. The portion they serve tends to be heartier. I have tried their fish soup (similar to the French version, saffron and...
La Cuchara De San Telmo: I had a good lunch here!
ilovespain Says:
Stumbled upon this joint. Not the most eye catching, but noticed a group of French tourists having a good time so I decided to grab a table. I was pleasantly surprised.
Cod cheek tempura and braised veal cheek.
Mil Catas: One of the best...
ilovespain Says:
They won some prestigious pintxos award in 2009, so I decided to give it a try. A bit of a walk from Old Town (10 minutes after you cross the river), but it is worth it.
Foie Gras on creamy risotto (aka heart attack on a plate)
Bataplan: Nightclubs
carlitoab Says:
With a balcony overlooking the beach "La Concha," this nightspot is usually open till 5am, the latest of any of Donostia's nightclubs. Drinks are expensive so I suggest you drink before you go!
Casual, sometimes nights are themed.
Buses to/from Bilbao
SWFC_Fan Says:
We undertook a day trip from Bilbao to San Sebastian (Donostia) during our visit to the Basque Country in December 2012.The two cities are a little over an hour apart by road and are connected by regular buses throughout the day.The following details were correct at the time...
Buses to San Sebastian (Donostia)
Roadquill Says:
Getting to San Sebastian / Donostia is a snap by bus. The buses are comfortable and those working at the bus station and the drivers are pretty good about helping with times. The ticket office in San Sebastian is around the corner from the bus parking area. Also, many people...
Tapas on the Bar
Roadquill Says:
One of the most pleasurable aspects of visiting San Sebastian is the myriad of bars and restos selling tapas (also knowns as pintxos) right off of the bar (they are on plates). Every tapas bar I have had the pleasure to have met was friendly and had some great individual...
Eating Pintxos in the Old Town
King_Golo Says:
San Sebastian is famous for its extra-delicious tapas which are called pintxos here. You can't walk through the old town without coming across the mouth-watering smell of pintxos such as doughballs filled with meat, vegetables or seafood, slices of baguette with bacon and...
Gros
mikey_e Says:
The Gros neighbourhood is the newer, more commercially oriented one that you enter if you cross the Urumea by the Zurriola Bridge. In effect, if you go the Kursaal, you will find yourself in Gros. It is not exactly a charming part of the city, especially if you consider it...
Plaza de Bilbao
mikey_e Says:
The Plaza de Bilbao is another one of those well-planned additions to the Ensanche Cortazar. It is a wide, circular plaza with a massive fountain in the centre. It is also one of the sights you’re likely to see when you first arrive if you come by train, as it is right...
Explore Deeper into San Sebastián
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